COP28 Kicks Off in Dubai with Visionary Leadership and Urgent Climate Appeals

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: The 28th Conference of the Parties (COP28) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) commenced yesterday in Dubai, marking a pivotal moment in the global fight against the escalating climate crisis. World leaders, policymakers, and climate experts from 198 parties have gathered for the two-week conference, which runs from November 30 to December 12, 2023, to address urgent concerns and set ambitious goals for climate action.

COP28 opens against the backdrop of extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and biodiversity loss. With the latest IPCC report underscoring the need for urgent action to limit global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, COP28 is poised to deliver concrete outcomes. The conference's three main pillars include accelerating industrial decarbonization, ensuring a fair transition to green energy, and fostering innovation for effective climate action.

Sultan Al Jaber, on his first day as COP28 President, expressed gratitude to predecessors and emphasized unity among diverse nations. Hosting COP28 in the UAE, he acknowledged the urgent need for a paradigm



shift, starting with an ambitious global stocktake to unify climate elements. Al Jaber urged collective responsibility, flexibility, and ambitious stocktaking, emphasizing the UAE's values of collaboration, optimism, and determination. 

Addressing fossil fuels, he advocated unconventional approaches, highlighting the crucial role of finance and pledging to bridge the gap between development and climate action. Al Jaber concluded by urging renewed determination, recognizing the pivotal impact of current actions on the planet's future.

As COP28 unfolds, the world will closely observe whether world leaders can rise to the challenge and deliver the ambitious and decisive climate action urgently needed. The future of the planet depends on the outcomes of this two-week conference in Dubai. 

The conference is expected to deliver a renewed commitment to the goals of the Paris Agreement, a comprehensive global stocktake, enhanced climate finance, accelerated action on adaptation, and increased collaboration on innovative climate solutions.